Challenges of Regional Policy and Responses of Traditional Public Administration in East-Central European Countries

The paper deals with the development of the management system of regional policy in four countries (Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania). It presents the results and dilemmas concerning the creation of the territorial administration and the administrative meso-level, the special organs of regional policy and their interconnections with public administration. It also touches upon the emerging conflicts between the traditional institutions of democratic participation and publicity, and the new characteristics of the partnership networks. The presentation points out the decentralisation and modernisation challenges initiated by regional policy in the new member states in the light of European regional development strategy in the future and the domestic situation as well.